nCounter Knowledge Base: Systems

The Prep Station takes between 1.5-2.5 hours depending on the number of samples being processed.

If the power lapse is long enough that the instrument loses power then the reagents and samples will need to be discarded. It is highly recommended that both instruments (Prep Station and Digital Analyzer) are connected to an Uninterrupted Power Supply.

Yes, a stylus can be used with the touch screen on both the Prep Station and the Digital Analyzer.

The deck layout validation verifies that all of the consumables and reagents have been placed properly on the deck.

Instructions for fixing a bent electrode can be found in the nCounter System User M

anual and/or by following the on-screen prompts on the Prep Station for “Align Electrodes”. Never use force to secure a cartridge, which could cause further bending or breaking of the electrodes.

The waste container should not be lined with plastic, as a liner could cause a crash due to tips building up higher than expected. The waste container can be cleaned with a 70% Ethanol solution.

Due to normal transit observations, Prep Plates stored in an incorrect orientation for a few days will not have a significant impact. However, the longer the plates remain in an incorrect orientation will increase the risk of test failure. It is highly recommended that the Prep Plates are stored in their proper orientation as soon as possible. Always check for leakage before using.

Yes, the Prep Station will ask to confirm the action before aborting a run.

The cartridge can be stored for up to 1 week, protected from light and at 4°C.

Scanning takes about 25 minutes per well; 1—4.5 hours per cartridge.

You can pause the Digital Analyzer at any time, and the scanning of other cartridges will not be affected. If pausing is attempted and does not work please allow the Digital Analyzer to complete scanning, then download the Log Files and send them to support@nanostring.com for assistance in troubleshooting.

It is recommended that upon completion of scanning the cartridge is removed, wrapped in foil or placed in an opaque box and stored at 4°C. Cartridges can be stored for up to one week and discarded in accordance with your laboratory regulations.

Power cycling of the instruments is recommended at minimum every 14 days. It is important to ensure that samples are not processing on either instrument when they are turned off. Instructions on power cycling the instruments can be found in the nCounter System User Manual.

Routine maintenance is required for optimal system performance. Please consult the user manual or watch our training video for more information. Some planned maintenance is included with a service contract and performed by your Field Service Engineer.

NanoString recommends having a field service engineer on-site to assist you with moving your nCounter Analysis System, even over short distances. In some cases, this assistance may be covered under an active service contract agreement. Please contact support@nanostring.com for more information.

The nCounter Pro Analysis System has been validated to support a 21 CFR Part 11 environment; see our summary document for additional information. The nCounter Sprint Profiler has not been validated to this standard.

The cartridge has been specified to perform with volumes from 25 – 35 µL. Please note that the user can add water to the hybridized sample in order to be in the appropriate range.

It is important that you depress the pipette plunger to the second stop and create an air gap behind the sample when loading your SPRINT cartridge. This facilitates consistent sample processing.

These air gaps do not need to be the same size, as the instrument will correct most variation. Always pull the pipette away from the sample port before releasing the plunger, instead of releasing the plunger immediately. The microfluidic channels are a closed system, and doing so will withdraw the sample back into the tip.

For more information on loading a SPRINT cartridge, watch the training videos and view our cartridge loading document.

If your SPRINT has software version 2.0 or later, you can redefine the associated RLF with completed runs from your instrument. From the Web App, click the Download Logs option from the main menu, then choose your desired run. Click Fix RLF to upload a new RLF and virtually rescan your data. If you need to upgrade your instrument software to version 2.0 or later, please contact support@nanostring.com.

Additional maintenance tasks may need to be performed as necessary to ensure proper operation of the instrument. Planned maintenance is included in a service contract. Please refer to the User Manual for more details.

Unlike the MAX or FLEX systems, the SPRINT does the work of the Prep Station and Digital Analyzer in one. Sample processing and scanning occur in one run, and these two processes cannot be dissociated. Once a SPRINT cartridge has been processed and scanned, it cannot be used again.

If your SPRINT has software version 2.0 or later, a virtual re-scan is possible if you selected an incorrect RLF file on your initial run. From the Web App, click the Download Logs option from the main menu, then choose your desired run. Click Fix RLF to upload a new RLF and virtually rescan your data. If you need to upgrade your instrument software to version 2.0 or later, please contact support@nanostring.com.

No. If precipitate appears in Reagent C, it will not have any effect on the performance of the assay and will not cause any blockages of the system.

The SPRINT is designed to keep a variety of instrument logs in case troubleshooting or other support is needed. In the case where the instrument experiences an error outside of a run, please send the instrument logs to support@nanostring.com for further assistance. To download the instrument logs that are not associated with a particular run, please use the following instructions:

Open the Web App, select Administration, then select Download Logs.

Under Log Type, select System, uncheck the box next to Only Include Most Recent Logs, select the Updated From box and select the desired date, select Apply, then select Download.